what does an expansion chamber do?

[seifer544]

what does an expansion chamber do? i have one on my 98 custom

[jayel579]

X-chambers help eliminate liquid in a gun that is running CO2. if you are running N2, you dont need an X-chamber.

[xen_100]

Re: what does an expansion chamber do?

Originally posted by seifer544
what does an expansion chamber do? i have one on my 98 custom

very little.

you are better off anti-siphoning your tank and buying a reg.

[PyRo]

Well if your running Co2, its better than nothing. And with a model 98 I don't think I would bother with a reg, maybie an anti-syphon tank.

[athomas]

An expansion chamber is a chamber with lots of surface area, much like the cooling fins on a computer fan. The fins can be inside and out. The increased surface area helps get heat into the CO2 when it condenses or gets into the chamber in liquid form. An increased temperature turns the liquid back into a gas or prevents it from becoming condensation much like hot air holds more water than cold air.

CO2 turns to liquid at a known pressure based on the temperature. An expansion chamber helps maintain the temperature of the CO2. If the temperature is more consistent, then the pressure is also more consistent. The pressure of CO2 is self regulating if kept at a constant temp.

[xen_100]

the problem comes in when the x-chamber gets cold. then it just fills up with liquid and you are back to the original problem. they delay the enevitable.

[athomas]

That's right. In cold weather there is not enough heat in the air to provide adequate heat transfer to the metal of the expansion chamber. In hot or warm weather they work ok if you have a good one. Even in cold weather they will never fill with liquid. They will however, not provide any warmth for the gas. This will cause the CO2 to condensate when it hits any cold surface of the valve.